The Feeling Album: “Twelve Stops and Home”

"With people of limited ability modesty is merely honesty. But with those who possess great talent it is hypocrisy." - Schopenhauer

It's refreshing to see that a band with such an obvious capability for power pop songwriting and instrumental ability also has the audacity to use it, especially when to follow suit in the genre is to "play it down." For some time now, it seems, the preferred aesthetics in indie and alternative music have tended towards understatement, simplicity, and fairly static dynamics. The guitar solo is, of course, taboo. There are exceptions to these rules, but I don't think I have heard one as uninhibited as The Feeling. (Certainly you could count the Darkness, but there's so much sarcasm in them and the public's acceptance of them.)

These twelve songs are intricate, deliberate, and infectious in their chord patterns and melodies and generally upbeat in tone. The choruses are huge and energetic, and the vocals soulful. Instrumentally, the execution is precise and yes - there are guitar solos. Basically, these guys are everything their peers are not, and in something of an ironic twist, they have the potential to make a lot of the indie and alternative out there look just a wee bit uptight in comparison. It's a fun record, and I would recommend it highly.

Ok, so the 80's aren't *really* back, but the song craft here is very reminiscent of late 80's/early 90's pop rock tunes. Not full of this political angst or pretentious lyrics. Songs about love and heartache full of catchy beats and hooks.

This album originally came out in the UK before it dropped here. Actually, I prefer the UK cover. Much more interesting. I believe the new US cover makes the album a little generic. And this album is anything but generic.

Twelve Stops and Home starts with the soft, pensive tune "Sewn". An interesting word to choose to replace "hooked" or "whipped". It's not the opening showcase I'm used to hearing on new albums, but it definitely showcases one of this group's strongest assests: Dan Gillespie Sells' entrancing, light, airy vocals. A lot of emotion goes into these vocals, and unlike some vocalists who's airy voices tend to betray their lack of conviction, you can tell that Sells feels what he's singing. This single did them quite well in mid-2006 in Europe. I can see why.

The second track, "Never Be Lonely", definitely grooves on that 80's vibe, with a stuttered vocal hook and plinking melodies that seem to beg for easier times. "B-b-b-b-baby, I think I'm going c-c-c-crazy. Why should I be sane without you?" Cute and clever songwriting like this is practically littered across this album, as if they had TOO much creativity and didn't know what to do with it all, so they just threw it everywhere.

"Love It When You Call" is one of my favorite tracks on this album (which is a tough call to make when it is just chocked full of amazing songs) featuring a fast-paced 80's-like power chord and solo-style breakdown. The lyrics are cheesy but appropriate. This song is perfect.

The album follows this general progression, properly showcasing their faster and slower talents. "Fill My Little World" reminds me a bit of Maroon 5 (if they didn't take themselves so seriously), "Kettle's On" is a waltzy number trying to get their love back home for some tea, etc. "Helicopter", my other favorite song, is completely non-traditional as pop songs go. The beat is off and the lyrics are definitely intriguing, but it just happens to hit me in the right place every time.

And you can't beat that price. $8.99 to find your new favorite band? How can you say No?

I recently caught them on the VH1 tour with Rocco DeLuca and Mat Kearney at the House of Blues on Sunset on 3/20. What a wonderful surprise! Excellent band to catch live. Highly recommend this album, each song is memorable but my absolute favs are "Love It When You Call," "I Want You Now," "Sewn," "Fill My Little World," and "Strange". They can't be compared to boy bands, they play their own instruments and they play it quite well. I hope U.S. radio stations start playing their music because we need new music like theirs.

The purist, most delightful pop-rock in years, Twelve Stops & Home magically blends the best of boy-band melodies with rock sensability. Well-written, hard-to-shake tunes will have you wondering how good, say, a boyband like Backstreet Boys could have been if they wrote all their songs, played all instruments, stayed away from schmaltz and Muzak....okay, forget that comparison, that was never gonna happen, just pick up this disk and try to get it out of your head after a couple of listenings. I'm already looking forward to The Feeling's next venture.

The Beatles'influence can be heard in most modern artists, but I wonder if these guys listened to anyone else growing up. The Beatles were brillant in the late 60's and here, 40-some years later, The Feeling have cranked out an album that feels contemporary, yet very much in line with their "Forefathers". Very enjoyable disk! (BTW, this is way, way, WAY better than Keane)